Bedfordshire Yeomanry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bedfordshire Yeomanry |
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| Active | 1797–1810 1817–1827 1901–2014 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Great Britain (1797–1800) United Kingdom (1801–2014) |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | Yeomanry (First World War) Royal Artillery (Second World War) |
| Garrison/HQ | Bedford |
| Engagements | First World War
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The Bedfordshire Yeomanry was a special type of regiment (a military unit) in the British Army. It served at different times between 1797 and 1827. It was brought back in 1901 for the Second Boer War.
This regiment also fought in the First World War. Later, it changed its role to become an artillery regiment, which means they used large guns. It then served in the Second World War. The history of this unit continued until 2014, when its last part was put on hold.
Contents
History of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry
How the Regiment Started
Around 1793, there was a fear that the French government might invade Britain. Britain didn't have enough soldiers to stop such an attack. So, in 1794, the government decided to create more volunteer groups to defend the country.
The mounted volunteers, who rode horses, were called "Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry." The Bedfordshire Yeomanry first formed in 1797 as small, independent groups. By 1803, these groups joined together to form the Bedfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry. However, this unit was disbanded (closed down) in 1810.
A new Bedfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry was started in 1817, but it was also disbanded in 1827.
Serving in the Second Boer War
In 1899, Britain decided to let volunteer soldiers help in the Second Boer War in South Africa. After some tough defeats, the British government realized they needed more troops. So, they created the Imperial Yeomanry.
Existing Yeomanry regiments were asked to provide companies of about 115 men. Many British citizens also volunteered to join this new force. The first group of volunteers, about 10,000 men, arrived in South Africa in early 1900.
The 28th (Bedfordshire) Company was formed in January 1900. It was led by Lord Alwyne Compton, a local Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire. This company's history continued when the Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry was officially re-formed on 19 September 1901.
On 1 September 1901, the regiment was re-established as the Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry. Its main base was in Bedford. It had four squadrons (smaller groups of soldiers) and a machine gun section. These were made up of soldiers who had fought in the South African war.
On 1 April 1908, the regiment changed its name to the Bedfordshire Yeomanry. It became part of the Territorial Force, which was a home defence force. The regiment was trained to fight as lancers, using long spears while on horseback. Their base was on Ashburnham Road in Bedford.
The regiment was organized into different squadrons based in various towns:
- HQ (Headquarters) was in Bedford.
- A Squadron was in Bedford.
- B Squadron was in Biggleswade, with a smaller group in Shefford.
- C Squadron was in Dunstable, with smaller groups in Leighton Buzzard, Woburn, and Ampthill.
- D Squadron was in Godmanchester (in Huntingdonshire), with smaller groups in St Neots, Kimbolton, Ramsey, Somersham, Sutton, and Chatteris.
The First World War
When the First World War began in August 1914, many soldiers in the Territorial Force volunteered to serve overseas. Because of this, Territorial Force units were split into different "Lines":
- 1st Line units were ready to serve overseas.
- 2nd Line units stayed in Britain for home defence.
- 3rd Line units were formed later to train new soldiers and provide replacements.
1st Line: 1/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry
At the start of the war, the 1/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry was part of the Eastern Mounted Brigade. They were based in Hatfield Peverel and Stansted until June 1915.
On 12 June 1915, they moved to France and joined the 9th Cavalry Brigade. This brigade was part of the 1st Cavalry Division. The regiment eventually fought on foot in major battles like the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Cambrai, and the Hundred Days Offensive in 1918. It was one of only a few Yeomanry regiments to join a regular cavalry division during the war.
In March 1918, the regiment was planned to change into a cyclist unit or a machine gun battalion. However, a big German attack changed these plans. The regiment got their horses back and returned to the 1st Cavalry Division. They were then split up, with one squadron joining each of the other regiments in the 9th Cavalry Brigade.
2nd Line: 2/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry
The 2nd Line regiment was formed in September 1914. They were based near Chelmsford from October 1915 to February 1916. In June 1916, they joined the 16th Mounted Brigade in Essex.
Later in 1916, this regiment was also split up. Different squadrons joined different divisions. By March 1917, the regiment came back together in Ware, Hertfordshire. By July 1917, it had joined the 1st Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Ireland.
3rd Line: 3/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry
The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915. It was based in Colchester and stayed in the United Kingdom. In July 1917, it also joined the 1st Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Ireland.
Between the World Wars
After the First World War, on 7 February 1920, the regiment was re-established in the Territorial Army with its headquarters still in Bedford. It was decided that only a few Yeomanry regiments would remain as cavalry (horse-mounted soldiers). The rest, including the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, would take on new roles.
So, on 5 August 1920, the regiment became part of the Royal Field Artillery (RFA). This meant they would now operate large guns. They were named 10th (Bedford) Army Brigade, RFA. They had four batteries (groups of guns) called 417–420 (Bedfordshire) Batteries.
The brigade changed its name a few times. In 1921, it became 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Army Brigade, RFA. In 1924, it was renamed 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) (Army) Field Brigade, RA. Finally, on 1 November 1938, it became the 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Army Field Regiment, RA.
In 1939, the Territorial Army was "duplicated," meaning existing units formed a second unit. The 417th and 418th batteries stayed with the 105th Regiment. But the 419th and 420th batteries moved to a newly formed unit: the 148th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA.
The Second World War
52nd (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Regiment, RA
The 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA, changed its role again on 1 November 1939. It became the 52nd (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Regiment, RA. This unit fought with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. However, it was disbanded after many British soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk in June 1940.
It was re-formed in March 1943. This new unit took part in the North West Europe Campaign starting in June 1944. It was finally disbanded in Germany in April 1946.
148th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA
At the start of the war, the 148th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA was part of the 18th (East Anglian) Infantry Division. It started with two batteries (419 and 420). A third battery (512) was added in June 1941.
The regiment was sent to Singapore with its division. They arrived just before Singapore fell to enemy forces in February 1942. The regiment was officially allowed to use the "Bedfordshire Yeomanry" name from 17 February 1942. However, since they were captured on 15 February, this change didn't really take effect for them.
After the Wars
On 1 January 1947, the regiment was re-formed in the Territorial Army. It was named 305 (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, RA. On 31 October 1956, its role changed again, and it became 305 (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Light Regiment, RA.
Finally, on 1 May 1961, it joined with another regiment, the 286 (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment. Together, they formed the 286 (Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment.
This unit was later reduced to a single battery (a smaller group of soldiers and guns) in 1967. This battery was called 201 (Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Battery. In 2014, this unit was put on hold, meaning it no longer actively serves.
Battle Honours
Battle honours are special awards given to military units for their bravery and success in battles. The Bedfordshire Yeomanry received several battle honours:
- First World War
- Somme 1916 and '18
- Flers-Courcelette
- Cambrai 1917 and '18
- Amiens
- Albert 1918
- Hindenburg Line
- St Quentin Canal
- Beaurevoir
- Pursuit to Mons
- France and Flanders 1915–18 (This covers their service in France and Belgium during the war)
- Second World War
The Royal Artillery, which the Bedfordshire Yeomanry became a part of, fought in almost every major battle. However, artillery units usually don't get specific battle honours listed. Instead, in 1833, King William IV gave the Royal Artillery the motto Ubique, which means "everywhere." This motto represents all the places they fought.
Uniform
Before 1914, the Bedfordshire Yeomanry wore a dark blue uniform for special occasions. It had a white collar, white stripes on the trousers, and white piping (decorative trim). Their hat was a blue peaked cap with white patterns, like those worn by lancers. They also had shiny silver chain-mail epaulettes (shoulder decorations) on their tunics.
See also
- Imperial Yeomanry
- List of Yeomanry Regiments 1908
- Yeomanry
- Yeomanry order of precedence
- British yeomanry during the First World War
- Second line yeomanry regiments of the British Army
- List of British Army Yeomanry Regiments converted to Royal Artillery
